Milk-can punch and sealer



J. EXNER.

MILK CAN PUNCH AND SEALER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, I922.

1,434,881, Patentd Nov. 7,1922.

BYQ

A TTORNEY INVENTOR. 270861123] 2, EX] 6/81 Patented Nov. '1, 1922.

STATES MILK-CAN PUNCH AND SEALER.

Application filed January a, 192, Serial No. 526,974.

To all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn EXNnu, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Steele ton, county of San JoaquimState of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in h/Iilk-Can Punches and Sealers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reterencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to a device principally intended to be used with condensedmilk cans such as that commodity is universally marketed in.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which two holes, one for pouring and the other for the necessary air vent, may be easily punched at one operation, and so that they will be in the proper relation with respect to each other and to the can, that is, near the edges of the can and at diametrically opposed points therein, this being the proper loca tion to secure easy pouring of the entire contents of the can.

A second object is to provide means for permitting a single stock size of the device being used to punch cans of different sizes, while maintaining the same relative positioning of the holes in all sizes of can which are within the range of the device.

A third object is to provide device of this kind which will not only serve to punch a can, but may be employed as a means to subsequently temporarily cover'and seal the holes when desired, as for instance when the can has been only partially emptied, and it is desired to retain the can and the milk therein for further use.

By thus providing sealing means for the punched holes, the milk is largely prevented from evaporation and deterioration by reason of contact with the air; flies and other insects cannot contaminate the contents of the can, and the holes are prevented from becoming clogged with coagulated milk, as usually happens,

A. further object is to provide means on the device whereby when the holes are punched and the device is left to serve as a sealer, it will trictionally engage the can so that in the event or" the latter upsetting, the contents will not spill out.

A further object oi? the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplishby means such structure and relative arrangement 0' parts as will fully appear by a perusal o the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a perspective elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the same, partly broken away, and showing the device applied to a small sized can.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device' Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numerals l and 2 denote a pair of plates of suitable shape, size and material, punched from the same die, and mounted one on the other in longitudinal alinement. The upper plate 1 has lugs 3 formed therewith, which art bent down and under the plate 2, while the latter plate has similar lugs 4; which are bent up and over the plate 1. Thus the two plates are held against relative lateral displacement, but are allowed telescopic expanding and contracting movement within certain limits, so that the overall length of the combined plates may be altered.

The plates are normally held intermediate their extended and contracted limits by a pair of fiat coil springs o, mounted in opposed relation, the opposite ends of the springs being fastened to the respective plates beyond their superimposed portions,

Fixed to and depending from under the plates adjacent their opposed ends and can trally of the width thereof are punch. memhere 6, preferably in the pointed pins. normed with and depending downwardly from the opposed ends of the plates are guide lugs 7 longer than the punches, and which are curved on an arc the center of which lies on a line drawn.

through the punches, said are having a. curvature about that of the average sized can.

These lugs are spaced equally on both sides of the punches and diametrical line proshape of sharp-- jected therethrough and are positioned relative to the punches so that when the guide lugs pass down closely against the outside of a circular can 8 of the standard type, the

punches will then be just inside the side walls of the can, as clearly shown in Fig.

At the same time the symmetrical positioning and curvature of the lugs with respect to a line drawn through the punches insures that the plates will straddle the can at its Widest point and that the punches will therefore be alined to make diametricaliy opposed holes.

Between the lugs, the plates are extended beyond the punches to form finger-holds 9, whereby the device may be readily lifted up andre-moved When desired.

lVhen a small can isto be punched, the plates must be contracted against the resistance of the springs, and when using the device for a large can, the plates must be expanded, also against the resistance of the springs.

In either case, the result is to cause the punches to frictionally engage the side Walls of the holes made thereby, and thus firmly hold the device in position when it is desired to do so, and preventing spilling of the contents of the can in the event that the latter upset.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects oi the inve tion as set forth herein.

While this specification forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to do not torma departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A can punch and seal comprising plat-e means adapted to rest on top of a can, opposed punch members fixed to and depending under the plate, and spring means -for maintaining a frictional contactbetween the punches and the side Walls of the holes made thereby.

2 A can punch and seal comprising a pair of plates slidably mounted with each other, punch members carried under the plates and arranged in opposed relation to each other, and spring means connecting the plates and arranged to allow expanding and contracting movement of the plates and to be under tension. with either (it such movements.

pair of plates slidably mounted with each other for limited telescopic movement, double acting spring means arranged to normall hold the plates intermediate their limit of travel in either direction, and punch members fixed to and depending under the plates in opposed relation to each other.

. 4;. A can punch and seal comprising a pair of plates slidably mounted with each other for limited telescopic. movement, double acting spring means arranged to normally hold the plates intermediate their limit of travel in either direction, punch members carried under the plates adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and lugs depending down from the ends of the plates and beyond the punches, and positioned to pass down outside the opposite sides of a can and to thus cause the punches to be alined to puncture the can adjacent the edges thereof.

ln testimony whereof I a'lfix my signature.

JOSEPH EXNER.

5. A can punch and seal conjiprising a 

